Pottawatomie County girl suffers gunshot wound

A brother and sister playing with a loaded pistol resulted in an accidental shooting Wednesday night, authorities said.

Kim Morava

A brother and sister playing with a loaded pistol resulted in an accidental shooting Wednesday night, authorities said.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff Mike Booth said the siblings were playing with the small-caliber handgun went it went off, with the bullet striking the 11-year-old girl in the abdomen.

Booth, who said the brother didn't know the gun was loaded when he pulled the trigger, called the shooting an accident.

The boy, age 12, had his sister on the couch and was applying pressure to the wound when he called 911, the sheriff said.

Deputy Travis Sullivan was first to arrive on the scene, Booth said, and began first-aid. Although the girl was talking to the deputy at the scene, the extent of her injuries was unknown so a Medi Flight helicopter ambulance was called to transport the girl to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

The sheriff, who said the bullet entered the side of the girl's abdomen from back to front, said she had been moved to a room at Children's Hospital, where she listed in stable condition late Thursday afternoon. Her name was not being released.

The incident occurred at the family's home, located in an area not far from Fishmarket Road and Homer Lane. Booth said the shooting occurred while the children were home alone as the mother and stepfather were reportedly driving home from work.

In addition to the small-caliber pistol involved in the accident, Booth said deputies also removed a few other weapons from the home for safekeeping.

While Booth called the shooting an accident, he said the district attorney would likely review the case.